For the groundbreaking creation of the lithium-ion battery, John B. Goodenough[1] of The University of Texas at Austin will receive the highest honor in the engineering profession from the National Academy of Engineering[2] in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 18.

image courtesy: UT Austin

Goodenough is one of four individuals who will receive the Charles Stark Draper Prize for Engineering[3] for "engineering the rechargeable lithium-ion battery that enables compact, lightweight mobile devices.” The $500,000 annual award honors engineers whose accomplishments have significantly benefited society.

In 1979, John B. Goodenough showed that by using lithium cobalt oxide as the cathode of a lithium-ion rechargeable battery, it would be possible to achieve a high density of stored energy with an anode other than metallic lithium. This discovery led to the development of carbon-rich materials that allow for the use of stable and manageable negative electrodes in lithium-ion batteries.

Goodenough's discovery was followed with additional breakthroughs by Rachid Yazami, Akira Yoshino and Yoshio Nishi.

In addition to the Draper Prize, Goodenough[4] was awarded the National Medal of Science in 2013 for his lasting contributions to materials science and technology. He also holds the Japan Prize, which he received in 2000.